Who are your favorite Dobro players?

Bob Storti · Post by **Bob Storti** » 21 May 2004 5:01 am

Here's my list of favorite Dobro players:

Randy Kohrs
Jerry Douglas
Rob Ickes
Mike Auldridge

If someone held me down and made me choose one, I'd have to go with Rob, because I'm a huge fan of Blue Highway. Who are your favorites?

Bob[This message was edited by Bob Storti on 21 May 2004 at 06:03 AM.]

c c johnson · Post by **c c johnson** » 21 May 2004 5:37 am

Pete Kirby, Jerry douglas, Uncle Josh

Russ Young · Post by **Russ Young** » 21 May 2004 5:39 am

Orville Johnson

Ed Altrichter · Post by **Ed Altrichter** » 21 May 2004 6:43 am

Pete Kirby ! (Bashful brother Oswald, of Roy Acuff's "Smoky Mountain Boys".)

Ron Bednar · Post by **Ron Bednar** » 21 May 2004 8:13 am

Pete Grant
Clyde Mattocks

And all the others listed above.

Stephen Gambrell · Post by **Stephen Gambrell** » 21 May 2004 9:31 am

All in all, I'd have to say Mike Auldridge. Mike, IMO, is the guy who established the link between Josh, and what's going on today. His tone, taste, and timing are impeccable! Randy Kohrs, Rob Ickes, and especially Jerry, are all incredible players who show heavy Auldridge influences every time they strap on their guitars. I'm not trying to take ANYTHING away from these dudes, cause they all tear it up, but I'd call Mike the father of the modern dobro.

Chris Forbes · Post by **Chris Forbes** » 21 May 2004 12:41 pm

Here here!! I second that Stephen!!

HowardR · Post by **HowardR** » 21 May 2004 1:05 pm

Jim Heffernan. He's nobody's clone.

He deserves much more recognition.

Walter Stettner · Post by **Walter Stettner** » 21 May 2004 1:27 pm

I also like Sally Van Meter and Frank Poindexter.

Kind Regards, Walter
www.austriansteelguitar.at.tf

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Terry Farmer · Post by **Terry Farmer** » 21 May 2004 2:23 pm

Cindy Cashdollar is my favorite.[This message was edited by Terry Farmer on 21 May 2004 at 03:25 PM.]

Larry Robbins · Post by **Larry Robbins** » 21 May 2004 4:08 pm

Id have to vote for "all the above" !!

Dan Tyack · Post by **Dan Tyack** » 21 May 2004 4:39 pm

Orville Johnson
Mike Audridge
Jerry Douglas
Josh Graves
Hal Rugg
Paul Franklin
James Burton

Lincoln Goertzen · Post by **Lincoln Goertzen** » 21 May 2004 7:37 pm

I like Jerry Douglas and Rob Ickes a lot, but to me, Mike Auldridge takes the cake. I happen to be listening to his "Eight-String Swing" as I write this, and love it better every time I hear it.

Besides being a great player, Mike is a great man to talk to. I have asked him a lot of questions about dobro and pedal steel, and he always replied. He has always been honest with me, and I appreciate that very deeply.

Lincoln Goertzen

Jerry Clardy · Post by **Jerry Clardy** » 21 May 2004 9:06 pm

After seeing Jerry Douglas at the AKUS concert, he gets my vote as best player and best promoter of the instrument. I couldn't believe he could get all that sound from a reso when he took his extended solos while the rest of the group took a break. Sort of like watching Charlie McCoy play Orange Blossom Special on the harmonica: I saw it and still couldn't believe it.

Rob Ickes does some really good work on his instructional video, too. Really good technique.

Mike Auldridge has been "Mr. Taste" on reso since the days of Linda Ronstadt and The Seldom Scene.

Stephen Gambrell · Post by **Stephen Gambrell** » 21 May 2004 10:10 pm

Thank you, Bob, for asking,"who's your favorite," rather than '"Who's the best." Is Jerry better than Mike? Is Mike better than Phil Ledbetter? Will ANYBODY ever be better than Pete Kirby? The instrument is so soulful, whether 6 or 8 string, G tuned, or something altered, fretted, slid, played upright or laying flat, that ALL these guys are favorites.
And don't you love the way Os built on the Hawaiians, Josh built on Cliff Carlisle, Mike built on Josh, etc., etc? We're truly in a wonderful time for the resonator guitar, with tons of great players out there to pick up as "favorites."
And who's the best? EVERY ONE OF THEM!

Jerry Clardy · Post by **Jerry Clardy** » 21 May 2004 10:23 pm

...,"who's your favorite," rather than '"Who's the best."

Here's an interesting paradox: Is your favorite the one you consider best or could your favorite be the one you consider worst? Why or why not?

[This message was edited by Jerry Clardy on 21 May 2004 at 11:26 PM.]

Chris Walke · Post by **Chris Walke** » 22 May 2004 5:49 am

Jerry Douglas
Rob Ickes
Mike Auldridge

Most of all:
Greg Leisz - my fave for ALL THINGS STEEL - lap steel, pedal steel, dobro, weissenborn (also plays mandolin and elec & acous guitar)

Mike D · Post by **Mike D** » 22 May 2004 7:01 am

JD for all-out technical genius. (great taste too)
Cindy Cashdollar for tone and that 'heartfelt' sound. Her work on Steve James' "Boom Chang" is amazing.

Not really a Dobro player per ser but I always hafta add in David Lindley.

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Half-assed bottleneck and lap slide player. Full-assed Builder of resonator instruments.

Stu Alt · Post by **Stu Alt** » 22 May 2004 7:03 am

Stacy Phillips - for playing Klezmer music on the Dobro

Orville Johnson - for diversity of style

sliding bill · Post by **sliding bill** » 1 Jun 2004 2:52 pm

Sally Van Meter -- nobody comes close to her tone and timing.
Listen to Great Season Waltz on the Great Dobro Sessions to hear what I mean.

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Aspiring to mediocrity

Jeff Strouse · Post by **Jeff Strouse** » 1 Jun 2004 7:11 pm

I've had the pleasure of seeing Mike Auldridge live and have most of his CDs. Jerry Douglas is also one of my favorites. But, I grew up on the heart wrenching tremelo of Bashful Brother Oswald, so he will always be my favorite.

Dylan Schorer · Post by **Dylan Schorer** » 2 Jun 2004 7:53 am

Rob Ickes is one of my favorites, along with Uncle Josh, Mike Auldridge, and Jerry Douglas.

Check out Gary Morse on Resophonic Rodeo (www.resophonicrecords.com). He plays a 7-string dobro in G6 tuning, so he can get all those great swing and old-school country sounds. His album has ton of great tunes associated with the lapsteel, but rarely heard on the dobro.

Roger Shackelton · Post by **Roger Shackelton** » 2 Jun 2004 9:06 am

Buddy Emmons, on the Album "Two Aces Back Together." The Tune is "Hold It."

Roger

Tony Dingus · Post by **Tony Dingus** » 2 Jun 2004 11:16 am

Mike Auldridge's playing on the Old Train and Live at the Cellar Door LPs hooked me, then Douglas came along and then Jim Heffernan's album blowed me away. R. Kohrs, R. Ickes round out the list. BTW I got to jam with Auldridge several years back and I had a blast. One of the nicest people you'll ever meet. Tony

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 2 Jun 2004 11:19 am

I'm surprised no one has mentioned Curtis Burch, so I will.

Curtis Burch.

Also, Os, Josh, Mike, Jerry, Rob, and Randy.

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